GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Zane McIntyre extended his leg to the post midway through the second period, making a toe save on a Noel Acciari shot all alone in front of the net to salvage a North Dakota defensive breakdown that nearly cost it a goal.
It wasn’t the only close call.
With the national spotlight shining on its home ice, No. 3 North Dakota rallied for a 6-1 victory over No. 5 Providence in front of 11,525 on Friday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena in the Friars’ first visit to Grand Forks since November 1987.
McIntyre stopped 22 shots to grab the win.
Despite defensive breakdowns on both ends, UND continued to win puck battles and opened scoring on the power play as Luke Johnson skated down the right wing and fired a shot past Jon Gillies (20 saves) at 7:05 of the opening frame.
“You always like to get the first one in any game, and Zane gave us that chance to get that first one,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “They had the first two Grade A opportunities right at the top of his crease, so he gave us a chance and we made good on it on the first power play. Real good shot by Luke Johnson to give us the lead.”
The margin would only increase as the Friars fell victim to a North Dakota offense that created pressure on tired skaters for the majority of the second period.
“It was pretty one-sided,” PC coach Nate Leaman said. “We were taking long shifts and we were turning pucks over. We were getting to the end of the shifts and didn’t have a lot of legs, and there went a lot of races and we were reaching for a lot of pucks and they made us pay for it. They’re a good hockey team.”
Michael Parks found a Drake Caggiula rebound in front of the net to put North Dakota up 2-0 and Paul LaDue tallied another with a point shot at 16:02 of the second.
Tucker Poolman continued the trend on the power play with a shot in the back corner of the net at 18:25 to chase Gillies out of his post as Nick Ellis (eight saves) began the third period in the net for Providence.
With nine career shutouts and a 2.44 GAA that ranks in the top of Providence’s record books, Gillies fell short on help in front of the net as North Dakota skaters dominated nearly every puck battle.
“I thought he played fine,” Leaman said. “I don’t think we gave him much help in the second period there.”
Bryn Chyzyk solved Ellis at 6:54 of the final frame with a goal post a 5-0 advantage.
Kevin Rooney tallied the lone Providence State point on a backhand shot that slipped past McIntyre near the post to erase the deficit.
North Dakota continued its persistence as Caggiula rushed toward center ice and picked up the puck on a shorthanded breakaway. He fired a shot past Ellis at 14:22 and sealed the victory for North Dakota.
“Drake’s been doing the right things,” Hakstol said. “He’s been having a lot of opportunities that haven’t been going in, so it was nice to see a goal go in for him. He worked for that. He worked for that breakaway on the loose puck and made a good shot.”
In its first matchup of two top-five teams at Ralph Engelstad Arena, North Dakota’s effort was enough to send it ahead.
“What we expected,” Hakstol said. “Nothing more, nothing less. It was a good effort at home.”
